YORKTON – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yorkton and Area and the Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbours celebrated National Child Day 2024 with a special event at SIGN's Broadway location Nov. 22.
Originally scheduled for Nov. 20 but postponed due to inclement weather, the event welcomed Grade 5 students from across Yorkton.
"We've invited the Grade 5 students from Yorkton to join us to celebrate and recognize the rights of a child which were declared in 1989 by the United Nations," said Irma Van De Bon-Nicol, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Yorkton, in an interview with SaskToday.ca.
"We have 10 organizations that do activities with the youth as they visit them in stations for six minutes each to talk about the various rights of children so that they're aware of what their rights are," said Van De Bon-Nicol.
Participants learned about their right to a name and a nationality among other rights.
"Everybody is given a name when they're born ... it's yours to keep," said Van De Bon-Nicol, adding, "we need to all celebrate who we are and recognize that we're all individuals — we're all special — and how we all fit into the grand scheme of things."
A total of 11 stations were operated by organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Yorkton Tribal Council, Yorkton Family Resource Centre, Yorkton Fire Department, Shelwin House, Sask Abilities, BGC, KidsFirst, Alcohol and Drug Counselling, Parkland Valley Sport, Culture and Recreation District, and the City of Yorkton Recreation and Community Services. Each station provided interactive experiences to facilitate learning in a fun and engaging way.
"What we've done is combined different rights together that fit for an organization to talk about," said Van De Bon-Nicol.
Some of the rights discussed at the stations included the rights to:
- name and nationality;
- be born free and equal in dignity;
- a quality education and full opportunity to play and recreation;
- be among the first to receive protection and relief care in times of disaster;
- protections against all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty and exploitation;
- special education, care and support for any child who has a disability;
- choose friends and join or set up groups as long as it isn't harmful to other;
- give your opinion and have adults take you seriously. The right to learn about things and share what you think about others;
- practise these rights regardless of culture, where you live, or economic status, gender identity, religion, varying ability and national and social origin;
- rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities, culture and the arts; and
- health care, education, housing, justice and recreation without discrimination.
Despite prior engagements preventing two schools from attending, 162 Grade 5 students were expected to participate.
"I think it's really important for youths — whether they're Grade 5 or whether they're the high school students — they have an opportunity to visit the stations to know and learn about the various resources also available for them in Yorkton and to recognize that they are being heard and that they are valued and they are very much a part of the community and a very important part of the community," said Van De Bon-Nicol.
"And it fits in with Big Brothers Big Sisters. We're all about mentoring and we're all about helping youth reach their full potential through various means and through mentoring," she added. "We give opportunities for them to develop leadership skills and to be heard and respected for who they are. That's why we do it year after year."
For more information, check out the UNICEF's Convention on the Rights of the Child .
